Penholder.



Patented Jan. 2, I900.

m. w. BARBER.

P E N H U L D E R (Applicatiun filed Mar. 16, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I (No M rm: noakrsmus 00v. PHOTO-LUNG" wAsnmr-Ynn, n. c.

Patented Jan. 2, I900.

No. 640,6l2.

314 War, M. iL B c'u'ez' P E N H 0 L D E R (Application filed Mar. 16 1899.)

M. W. BARBER.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @EFICE.

MATTHEW w. BARBER, OF CEDAR TOWN, GEORGIA.

PENHOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,612, dated January 2, 1900. Application filed March 16, 1899. Serial No. 709,318. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW W. BARBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oedar Town, in the county of Polk and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Penholders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to writing-pens and holders therefor, and is primarily designed to secure the pen in the holder at the required position and prevent its slipping; to give to the pen the most advantageous set, whereby the point is brought nearly in axial line with the holder; to secure ease and comfort to the writer and an avoidance of writers cramp or palsy; to provide for a supply of ink at one writing sufficient to cover several folios of note-paper and enable an equal and uniform dispensation of the ink as the same is consumed, thereby obviating blotting and a wasting of the writing fluid; to enable the use of the ordinary steel or composition pen of any style or make, and to devise mechanism easy of manipulation, positive and certain in operation, and not readily liable to derangement by ordinary handling.

In its organization the penholder embodies several novel features, namely: The rotatable portion, in combination with the longitudinally-movable rod, provided with a wedge or inclined portion to cause a gripping of the pen when moved to the required position, said rod being moved by a screw-thread connection; the inner swell at the end of the holder, cooperating with the clamping means, to compel a deflection of the pen to throw its point toward the axial line of the holder; the fountain applied to or separable from the operating-rod and comprising a plurality of longitudinal channels; likewise the screwthread connection between the operating-rod and the swivel portion of the holder, whereby upon turning the swivel part the'rod is positively moved either in or out, according as it is required to secure or release the pen.

Fora full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to thefollowing description and the views of the drawings hereto annexed.

As is obvious from the drawings, many adaptations of the invention are contemplated and others are apparent. Hence it is to be understood that changes in the form,

proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention in applying it to the different forms and makes of penholders in general use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail view of a penholder embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the approximately triangular form of the closelyrelated faces forming the three rests. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is an end perspective, the pen being inverted and the upper portion of the holder broken away. Fig. 5 is an end View, the pen and the clamping means being omitted. Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal section of the lower end portion of the holder on a larger scale. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a different embodi ment of the invention, the fountain being separable from the operating-rod. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing an extra clamp-bar. Fig. 9 is a section of Fig. 8 on the line X X. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section showing an arrangement whereby the pen is clamped by an outward movement of the operating-bar and released upon moving the bar inward. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the fountain attachment. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the fountain, showing two longitudinal partitions. Fig. 13 is yet another form of the invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The holder 1 is provided near its lower end with three rests 2, 3, and 4:, which have an approximately right angled triangled arrangement and taper or slope toward their ends and merge into the sides of the holder. These rests are located in the same zone or occupy a like position with reference to the length of the holder. The restais aflat face and bears against the side of the fore portion of the middle finger. The rests 2 and 3 are slightly hollow to conform to the ball of the thumb and forefinger. The rest 3 is of greater lateral extent than the rest 2. The rests 2 and 3 stand at an angle and intersect on a line corresponding with the near side of the holder, whereby when the pen is in service the rest 2 will occupy a nearly vertical position and the rest 3 an approximately horizontal position. The upper portion 5 of the holder is separable from the lower portion and is swivelly connected therewith, so as to be rotated to effect a clamping or the release of the pen, as required. A plate 6 extends across the lower end of the holder and is. cut away, forming intercommunicating slots 7 and 8, the latter being semicircular toreceive the pen 9 and the slot 7 being straight and centrally disposed between the sides of the holder. The upper portion of the holder projects in advance of the plate 6 and is provided upon its inner side with a rib or projection 10, which is adapted to engage with the outer side of the pen 9 and cause the latter to assume an inclined position, whereby its writing-point is thrown toward the axial center of the holder, which in practice has been found to give beneficial results.

An operating-rod 11 extends lengthwise of the holder and is movable therein longitudinally and is provided at its lower end with a wedge or inclined portion 12, which cooperates with the plate 6 or lower end of the holder to cause the pen 9 to be clamped between the lower end of the rod and the contiguous portion of the holder. The upper end of the rod 11 is threaded, as shown at 13, and cooperates with a nut or threaded portion 14:, applied to the lower end of the up per part 5 of said holder. Upon rotating the part 5 the rod 11 will receive a longitudinal movement either in or out, according to the direction of movement of the said part 5, thereby effecting a release or a clamping of the pen, as required. The operating-rod is prevented from turning by having the wedge or incline portion 12 entering the slot 7 of the plate 6. The wedge or incline portion 12 may form an integral part of the operating-rod or be separate from and applied thereto, and its upper edge may engage directly with the pen 9 or be provided with a head-piece 15, by means of which an extended bearing upon the inner side of the pen is obtained. A fountain 16 is applied to or formed with the lower end portion of the rod 11 and in practice holds a suficient quantity of ink to enable the writer to cover several sheets or folios without necessitating frequent dipping of the pen to supply it with writing fluid.

The fountain 16 consists of a tapering shell pressed outwardly intermediate of its longitudinal edges and preferably subdivided by one or more longitudinal partitions 17 into a plurality of chambers or passages 18, the number of passages depending upon the size of the fountain, so as to prevent a too-rapid feed or flow of the ink to the pen-point. The passages 18 serve in a great measure to returd the free flow of the ink to the pen-point part 12.

by capillary attraction, thereby obviating blotting and a wasting of the ink. A blunt point 19 projects from the lower extremity of the fountain 16 and projects to within a short distance of the writingpoint of the pen, thereby insuring a proper and ample feed of ink thereto when writing. In some forms the fountain will be separable from the opcrating-rod and will be provided with a shank 20, approximating the body portion of a pen, so as to fit snugly against the inner side thereof and enter the holder and be secured therein, together with the pen, by the clamping action of the wedge or inclined portion 12. By having the fountain 16 independent of the operating-rod 11 it can be adjusted to any position with reference to the pen-point without allowing for the movement of the said rod, which is essential to cause a clamping of the pen within the holder by means of the The fountain 16 is offset from the shank 20, and an opening 21 is formed at the upper end of the fountain to admit of the ink passing readily into the fountain when the pen is dipped into the bottle.

In the form shown in Fig. 8 a spring-bar 22 is located within the holder adjacent to its upper or outer side and is made fast thereto at its inner end. This spring-bar has its longitudinal edges flanged, as shown at 23, and is adapted to bear against the pen and clamp the latter between it and the outer side of the holder. This construction admits of the operating-rod and wedge 12 being compara= ti vely thin. A pin 24 passes transversely through the part 12 and is adapted to engage with the longitudinal flanges 23 and brace the said part 12 laterally and prevent turning of the operating-rod when rotating the swivel portion of the holder. This pin may also serve as a stop to engage with the plate 6 and limit the outward movement of the part 12.

In the constructions heretofore referred to the wedge or inclined portion 12 operates to edcct a clamping of the pen upon inward movement of the operating-rod 11. In the construction shown in Fig. 10 the wedge or inclined portion 25 at the lower or outer end of the operating-rod 11 is forwardly inclined and codperates with a corresponding inclined portion 26 of a spring-bar 27 to efiect a clamping of the pen when moving the rod 11 outward. The inclined portion 26 slopes rearwardly and outwardly with reference to the holder, and the wedge 25 rides thereon when the rod 11 is moved outward, whereby the outer end of thespring-bar 27 is crowded outward and caused to bear against the pen and clamp it between the outer side of the holder and the free end of the part 27. The springbar 27 is secured at its inner end to the outer portion of the holder, and its free end isbent, substantially as shown, to provide the inclined portion 26 and the clamping-face 28, which comes opposite the inner face of the outer portion of the holder. An inward movement of the wedge 25 releases the pen by permitting the parts 26 and 28 to recede from the outer portion of the holder by reason of the resiliency of the part 27,

In the form shown in Fig. 13 the upper portion5 of the holder makes screw-thread connection with the lower part, and its inner end, closed and centrally pierced to receive the reduced end 29 of the operating-rod 11, said rod being swivelly connected therewith by having the closed end of the part 5 confined between the shoulder 30 of the rod 11 and the pin 31 passing transversely through an opening in the extremity of the reduced end portion 39. In this construction the part 5 of the holder receives a longitudinal movement with reference to the lower portion of the holder upon rotation thereof and causes the rod 11 and its wedge or inclined portion 12 to move therewith.

Any suitable material may be employed in the manufacture of the holder; but the lower portion is preferably constructed of brass or like composition,which can be spun into tubular form and given the required shape. The upper part may be of metal, wood, or other suitable material. Hard rubber, celluloid, or like composition may be advantageously employed in the construction of the invention, and it is not the intention to restrict the holder as to the nature of material, size, or form within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a penholder, composed of relatively upper and lower parts, an operating-rod having connection with the upper part and moved longitudinally by rotation thereof, a wedge or inclined portion at the outer or lower end of the said rod and movable therewith to eifect a clamping of the pen or a release thereof as required, substantially as specified.

2. Apenholder,comprising upper and lower parts, the upper part being relatively rotatable, an operating-rod located within the lower portion of the holder and moved longitudinally therein upon rotating the upper part, means for holding the operating-rod against rotation, a wedge or inclined portion applied to the lower or outer end of the operating-rod and adapted to effect a clamping of the pen, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A penholder provided with a rotatable portion, an operating-rod passing through the lower portion of the holder and having engagement with the rotatable part so as to be moved longitudinally thereby, a wedge or inclined portion applied to the lower end of the operating-rod, and a spring-bar secured within the holder and adapted to be moved laterally by means of the said wedge to cause a clamping of the pen between it and the holder, substantially in the manner set forth.

4. A penholder provided with a rotatable part, an operating-rod located within the holder and having screw-thread connection with the rotatable part so as to be moved longitudinally thereby, and having a wedge or inclined portion at its lower end, and an inner extension at the lower end of the holder to engage with the said wedge or inclined portion and prevent turning thereof, substantially as described.

5. A penholder provided with a rotatable part, an' operating-rod located within the holder and having screw-thread connection with the said rotatable part and provided at its lower end with a wedge or inclined portion, and a plate at the lower end of the holder having intercommunicating slots, one

of the slots being straight and receiving the said wedge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A penholder having an inner extension at its lower end to cause a deflection of the pen whereby the writing-point is thrown toward the axial center of the holder, and means for securing the pen within the holder, substantially as described.

7. In a penholder, an operating-rod movable longitudinally within the holder and provided with a wedge or inclined portion to effect a clamping of the pen, and a fountain applied to the said rod, substantially as specified.

8. In a pen-holder the combination with the pen, of a fountain applied to the pen and comprising a reservoir portion, a shank and an intermediate offset portion, the reservoir portion being subdivided longitudinally into a series of passages which communicate at their inner ends with one another and with a vent, substantially as described.

9. In a penholder, the combination with the pen, of a fountain applied to the pen and comprising a reservoir portion, a shank and an intermediate offset portion having an opening, the reservoir portion being subdivided longitudinallyinto a series of passages which communicate at their inner ends with one another and with the said opening, the end portions being in different planes and transversely curved in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a penholder, the combination with the pen, of a fountain formed of a blank and having its end portions in different relative planes and curving transversely in opposite directions forming a reservoir and shank,

and an intermediate inclined portion provided with an opening, the reservoir being subdivided in to longitudinal passages having communication at their inner ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATTHEW w. BARBER. [n s.]

Witnesses:

J. A. WRIGHT, M. T. BORDEN.

IIO 

